Homogenizer



May 20, 1941. yA. BAUSMAN HOMOGENIZER Filed April 11, 1939 N R 1Q, Rm ggg mm f .mNLI EN @1m Mm n M N Q la. @Am A. Y\ k @T1 $1.1

C@ l TTOR YS Patented May 20, 1941 HGMOGENIZER Alonzo Linton Bausman,

Springfield, Mass.,

assigner to National Equipment Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April l1, 19139, Serial No. 267,250

(Cl. E39- 265) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in homogenizing machines, such for example as are used for homogenizing milk, icecream and many other materials.

The machine with which this invention is particularly concerned is of the type wherein the material to he homogenized is forced under heavy pressure between a valve and its seat,-the valve being forced toward its seat by the pressure of a strong spring. The pressure exerted by this spring on the homogenizing valve may be varied and adjusted by means of a hand wheel which, according to prior practice, turns a screw threadcd stem against the spring to compress the same. Packing in a stufling box was used around this stem to prevent leakage of the material from the valve chamber. The material could and did contact with the valve spring and also with the pressure applying stem and its screw threads, together with the cooperating screw threads in the body. With the prior arrangement thorough and effective cleaning was difficult and slow. The packing, having once been contacted by the material, becomes unsanitary and should not be used a second time. This packing could not be thoroughly cleaned and was supposed to be used just once and then thrown away.

This invention has for an object an improved. construction of homogenizing unit which eliminates the stuffing box with its unsanitary packlng and which also substantially reduces the number of parts of the unit that are exposed to the material treated and accordingly the number of parts that need cleaning.

These and other objects will best be understood as the detailed description proceeds and they will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a small scale elevational view showing a portion of a homogenizer embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational View, drawn to a larger scale and showing one of the homogenizing units; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a portion of a two-stage homogenizing machine of a type well known in the art. cylinder block of a powerful pump is shown at ID, supported from a frame, a very small portion of which is shown at I I. Liquid to be treated is drawn in by the pump through a pipe I2 and forced by the pump successively through two The Cil

independent homogenizer units A and B,-even tually leaving unit B through pipe I3. The machine operatesin the same general manner as disclosed in the patent to Colony No. 1,550,882, dated August 25, 1925, to which reference is made for a more complete disclosure of the pumping mechanism. l

The units A and B are exactly alike and a description of the construction of one, as the unit B, will sufjce for both. The parts of the unit B are mounted in three members I5, I6 and Il, which are stacked one upon the other in the order named on top of the cylinder block It. These members are clamped together in any suitable way. As herein shown, a pair of studs i8 are fixed in cylinder block I3 and extend upwardly through sections I5, I6 and Il. Nuts I9, applied to the threaded upper ends of studs I t serve to clamp the three sections together. These sections are usually of polished stainless steel and readily separable to enable thorough and convenient cleaning.

The homogenizng unit includes a valve 23 and a cooperating seat 2| therefor. The seat has a central vertical passage 22 therethrough and the valve has depending webs 23, radially disposed and slidably engaging the wall of said passage to guide the valve. The seat and valve are mounted in a central passage 24 which extends vertically through the section IS and constitutes the homogenizing chamber. The seat is removable from this passage from the lower end thereof and is normally clamped in position between a shoulder 25 in section I and the member I 5 and an interposed gasket 2t by means if thestuds I 8 and nuts I9.

Liquid is forced to the valve (in this case from unit A) by the usual pump under heavy pressure, coming by way of a horizontal passage 21 and a vertical passage 28, both in section I5, to thel passage 22 in the valve seat. The liquid is forced between the valve and its seat into chamber 24 and thence to a horizontal passage 29 which communicates with the outlet pipe I3.

The valve 2|) is held to its seat by the heavy pressure of a spring 3!) acting through a follower 3| and a flexible diaphragm 32 on a cap 33 which rests upon the upper face of the valve. The spring and follower are mounted in the vertical bore of a barrel 3ft which in turn is mounted in a vertical passage extending through the upper section Il'. The enlarged lower end of barrel 34 is held in place between a shoulder 35 in section I1 and the section I-, together with the diaphragm 32 and gasket 3i, by the studs iS and nuts I9 described. On top of spring 30 is a seat 31 which ts into the upper and smaller end of the bore of a hand wheel 38. The larger and lower portion of said bore is interiorly threaded to receive the threaded upper end of barrel 34. By turning the hand wheel 38, the force of' spring 30 may be adjusted as desired.

It is usual to extend the passage 21 from end to end of section IE so that such passage can be easily and effectively cleaned. In such case the outer ends are closed b-y covers 49, each of. which is clamped against a gasket 4I and an end of section l by nuts 42 and studs 43, as indicated.

It is also usual to arrange the parts in such a manner that they may be quickly taken apart for cleaning and quickly assembled again for subsequent use. All of the parts are made of material which can' be easily cleaned. Stainless steel which has been polished is suitable material for most of the parts. The gaskets 26, 3S and 4| are of fiber and easily cleaned. The valve and its seat are usually made of Stellite An important feature of this invention is the arrangement whereby the number of parts which are exposed to contact with the materialbeing homogenized, has been reduced to a minimum and whereby the few parts, thus exposed, are of a character such as ftof be easily cleaned. According to prior practice, the valve spring corresponding in purpose to spring 30 is exposed to contact by the material to be homogenized and so also is the inner end of the pressure-applying stem associated with said spring. It has been necessary, heretofore, to seal :the joint between such stem and the body in which it is mounted by the use of packing in a conventional type of stuffing box. This prior arrangement makes thorough cleaning diicult and slo-w. 'I'he packing used in the stuffing box cannot be thoroughly cleaned and should be destroyed after each run of material through the homogenizer Yto avoid contamination.

In the illustrated construction, the valve 20, its seat 2|, and cap 33, and the ber gaskets 26 and 36, are the only elements exposed to contact by the material to be homogenized. The remaining parts are partitioned off from chamber 24 by the flexible diaphragm 32 which is preferably made of stainless steel. The diaphragm and gasket 36 close and seal the upper end of chamber 24 and the spring 30 acts on the valve through the diaphragm, rendering unnecessary any packing in connection with the pressure-applying means'.

In use, the material is forced under heavy pressure (from 2000 to 3000 pounds per square inch) through the units A and B and homogenized in the general manner disclosed in the above-named patent. After a batch of material has been homogenized, the various parts of the machine which have been exposed to` contact by the material must be cleaned thoroughly. To do this, with respect to a homogenizing unit such as B, one first turns wheel 38 to relieve the pressure of spring 30 on valve 20 and then removes nuts I9. After this, the upper section I1 is removed and laid one side because it needs no cleaning. The diaphragm 32 and gasket 35 are lifted from section I6 and cleaned. The sections l5 and I6 are separated after which the valve 20, its cap 33 and seat 2l, and the gasket 26 are removed. These removed parts can be easily, quickly and thoroughly cleaned and so also can the passages in the sections l5 and |6,-the covers 40 being removable to facilitate this work.

The invention offers a construction which enables thorough and effective cleaning to be quickly and easily accomplished and also enables every part of every surface exposed to the material to be seen and inspected.

What I claim is:

1. A homogenizing unit, comprising, a body section having a passage therethrough alfording a homogenizing chamber, a valve and a cooperating valve seat member mounted in said chamber, an end section having an inleft passage leading to said valve, a second end section, a iiexible diaphragm interposed between the seco-nd end section and body section, means for clamping said sections together whereby one end of the homogenizing chamber is closed and sealed by said diaphragm, a spring for forcing the valve toward its seat, and means for placing the spring under stress, said spring and means being mounted in said second end section and said spring acting on said valve through said diaphragm.

2. In a homogenizer, a body having a chamber, ahomogenizing valve mounted in said chamber, a exible diaphragm forming one wall of said chamber, and a spring outside said chamber acting on said valve through said diaphragm.

3. A homogenizing unit, comprising, a body section having a passage extending entirely therethrough from one to the other of twol opposite faces thereof, said passage forming a homongenizing chamber, a valve seatY member mounted in said chamber adjacent one of said faces and having an inlet passage therethrough, a valve on said seat controlling entry of material from said passage to said chamber, said section having an outlet passage leading from said chamber, a flexible diaphragm closing and sealing the opposite end of said chamber and resting against the other face of said section, an end section and means to clamp it to the body section With said diaphragm in between, a spring mounted in sai-d end section, and means to force the spring against said diaphragm and the latter against said valve. 4. A homogenizing unit, comprising a body having therein a chamber with an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom and being otherwise completely closed, said body also having a valve seat formed on one wall thereof and encompassing the inlet passage and a flexible wall opposed to the first-named wall, a valve in said chamber cooperating with said seat, a spring located outside said chamber and pressing against said iiexible wall and forcing the latter against said valve and said valve against its seat.

ALONZO LINTON BAUSMAN. 

